McCaskill to probe suggested USAF cuts (AUDIOI)

The Air Force has announced cuts in Missouri’s Air National Guard. Missouri’s member of the senate armed services committee says the committee will take a close look at the Air Force budget recommendations behind them.

The proposed Air Force budget shows 40 jobs being cut at Whiteman Air Force Base. more than 200 jobs eliminated at the Air National Guard base at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. 27 Guard positions and eleven civilian technicians could ge4t the axe at Rosecrans Airport in St. Joseph, the home of one of the National Guard’s busiest airlift wings.

Senator McCaskill says Whiteman will gain active duty people while losing the 40 civilian jobs. Some places will replace Guard personnel with fulltime Air Force positions.

McCaskill knows the National Guard has been supplementing fulltime forces for years. She wants to learn if it is wise to cut the Guard under those circumstances.

McCaskill says the committee will look at everything the Air Force recommends. She says a right balance needs to be struck between active troops and National Guard and reserve troops. She thinks active personnel is the last thing to be cut but she wants to see what the rationale is for the cuts before she decides if she can support any of the reductions the Air Force proposes.